Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

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INSIDE

Volume 24 Number 19 September 20, 2013

Kevin Mahoney, senior vice president and chief administrative officer, UPHS, shared these words by author Mark Twain to the 2013 graduates of Penn Medicine’s High School Pipeline Program.

Gathering for a recent ceremony celebrating this year’s graduating class, Penn Medicine staff, family members, community partners, and friends quickly learned what makes the comprehensive Penn Medicine High School Pipeline program a success every year.  That success is measured in each and every student entering the program.

Indeed, 100 percent of Pipeline students in 2012 graduated from high school, compared to 59 percent in the city of Philadelphia as a whole. One hundred percent of the class was accepted into college as well.

Participants worked throughout UPHS, regularly met with different mentors and managers, and experienced other professional development opportunities while taking community college courses and keeping up with their high school studies and responsibilities. The program recruits solely from West Philadelphia high schools.

“You not only met our expectations, but you exceeded them,” said Frances Graham, associate director of HR Workforce Development.

With financial support from Penn Medicine, University City District, and the Philadelphia Youth Network, approximately 10 Pipeline graduates are chosen to become Penn Medicine Academy interns, working 20 hours a week and being paid for 40 hours. The 40 hours allows participants to take advantage of

Penn Medicine’s tuition benefit to help fund a college education.

Additional funding comes from HUP’s Trauma Department in the form of $500 scholarships for selected students aspiring for a health-care career. Rhonda Holmstrom, Trauma Outpatient & Injury Prevention coordinator, presented scholarships to the following students for their college studies: Miles Burton (Pomona College), Kyjae Moore (Millersville U.), Amir Nash (Chestnut Hill College), Alexis Jackson (Community College of Philadelphia), Alhaji Tunkara (West Chester U.), Ismael Kagone (U. of Richmond), and Brittney Williams (Jackson State U.).

“This is not the end; this is the beginning,” said Al Black, HUP’s chief operating officer. “The money that the trauma foundation at HUP raised is recognition that when you’re doing the right thing, people will often step up and help you.”

These efforts to do the right thing were seen in numerous stories of students and their

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'Contagious' Isn't Always Bad! ...2

Excellence in Trauma Nursing Winners ......................3

HUP Triathlete Races for IOA ....3

Honoring The Wishes of Seriously Ill Patients ............4

Employee Flu Campaign Starts Next Month ....................4

“ Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.”

UPHS Pipeline ProgramSees Great Results

` Community College of Philadelphia student Shanice Jackson (second from left), who currently transports HUP patients in the Pipeline Program, with (from l to r): Nahree Anderson, nursing assistant; Lorna Taylor, unit secretary; and Diane Leichter, nurse manager, all of Silverstein 9.

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mentors. One example is Victoria Brown, clinical transplant nurse in Surgical Nursing, who mentored Brittney on Rhoads 4.

During her internship, Brittney made patient’s beds, talked to patients, delivered ice and supplies, answered the front desk phone, directed family members, and assisted wherever needed. “The people I met and the lessons I learned made it fun,” she said. “It was definitely a good experience.” She looks forward to taking what she learned in this experience to Jackson State University this fall, where she is attending on a full scholarship. “Brittney and I formed a bond beyond mentorship,” said Brown. “We talked about the importance of being persistent and organized in everything you do and avoiding procrastination. No matter what, wherever you are, you always represent yourself and want to make sure you are professional.”

Shanice Jackson, a CCP student and current PMA intern for the Rapid Response Team at the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, credits the Academy and the mentoring she received from Andrea Blount, primary care connector nurse in Trauma, with helping direct her career.

“When I first came to the program, I said I wanted to be a neonatal nurse,” said Jackson. “I didn’t want to work with older populations. Being in the Trauma Department and assisting with the falls

prevention programs taught me that older patients are just as important.”

“There is no event that I like better than the celebration of graduates from the High School Pipeline Program,” said Judy Schueler, vice president, Organizational Development, and chief Human Resources officer, whom Graham credits as the visionary who brought the project to fruition. Schueler told the attendees that she meets new hires monthly and asks what attracted them to work at Penn Medicine. In addition to salary, benefits, reputation of the institution, and other factors, Schueler says that the “culture of learning and innovation” here attracts people and convinces them to stay long term.

It is this commitment that led Schueler to create the Pipeline program as a summer internship in 2007 and extend it to a 12-month program in 2010.

“This is part of Penn Medicine’s commitment to the belief that education transforms lives,” said Schueler. “One hundred percent of this graduating class is going to college, and that is a tribute to the students, to our faculty and staff who served as mentors, and particular praise to Telandria Boyd-Johnson and Frances Graham who work with this program every day.” In total, 88 students have served in the two-year, year-round program since it began in 2010. Since 2007, 197 students — all drawn from West Philadelphia high schools,

including mostly recently Boys Latin Charter HS, Paul Robeson HS, and Sayre HS — have been enrolled in Pipeline.

“For the time they could have spent sleeping in, going to the movies or playing video games, they decided ‘I’m going to work, take college courses, do my homework, study and prepare for my future.’ We are so proud of them’” said Boyd-Johnson, a Workforce Development coordinator.

“Each and every day you have an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. That could be a thank-you, a helping hand, an ‘I’m sorry that happened to you,’” said Schueler. “Seize that opportunity.”

Mahoney encouraged the graduates to surround themselves with those “who inspire you and see goodness in you” to reach their full potential. He also spoke of his own experience leaving a surprisingly miserable high-paying insurance job in Bermuda to work in health care here in Philadelphia and encouraged students to pursue a career they enjoy.

He noted that even on the worst days, he tries to find something positive and enjoy life, and looks forward to seeing what the students will achieve with all they gained from this experience. “We cannot wait to see you all take on the world.”

If interested in becoming a mentor, please contact Telandria Boyd-Johnson at telandria.boyd-johnson@uphs.upenn.edu.

‘Contagious’ Isn’t Always Bad! In a hospital, the word ‘contagious’ usually connotes something bad. But that wasn’t the case one day last month in the Business Office on Silverstein 1. They wanted their motto for that day to spread:“Smile. It’s contagious!”

Anyone who passed the office – or dropped in – was treated to an array of bright yellow balloons, flowers and streamers. The big picture window facing the bridge was decorated as well and several members of the staff wore yellow. “We did it to boost morale, make everyone smile,” said Nancy Dougherty, managing director of Patient Services.

And it worked. “People looked at the window and started to smile,” Dougherty said. “It really is contagious!”

UPHS Pipeline ProgramSees Great Results

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` Members of the Shared Governance Committee in the Business Office who helped plan the ‘Smile’ day included (l. to r.) Laura Fronduti, Mary Mobley, Tabitha Yancey, Denise Cinousis, Nakita Forte, and Kimyatta Millner.

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Bill Lane, RPh, coordinator of Sterile Products in Pharmacy, has run more than 50 marathons in his life. In the last 10 years alone, he’s completed 14 Iron Man races (each with 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking and a 26-mile marathon), 21 half-Iron Man races, two double Iron Man races and two triples!

Clearly he likes pushing his physical endurance to the limit.

But he has also used these events as fundraisers. In the last two years he’s raised a little more than $4000 for worthwhile organizations. This year, it will be for Penn’s Institute on Aging.

As he noted on his fundraiser page (http://www.active.com/donate/WmLaneIMK), “To be able to continue to compete in triathlons is a result of the support, enthusiasm, and encouragement of all the Hospital Folks, Administrators and, especially, the support of all the wonderful Technicians, Pharmacists, and Pharmacy Managers I work with. I have been privileged and honored to be working with my colleagues for over 20 years.”

You can support the IOA, too, by participating in the 5K for the IOA and Memory Mile Walk this Sunday (September 22). To learn more, go to www.pretzelcitysports.com and click on ‘Online Registration’ in the left column.

HUP TRIATHLETE RACES FOR IOA

Amy Hand-CapozzoliThe nomination letter for Amy Hand-Capozzoli of Perioperative Services stated, “In the perioperative domain, there is no one more dedicated to the care of Trauma patients…. Working with the Trauma Service develops critical thinking skills, an ability to master a team approach to care, organizational skills as well as learning where your resources are to care for these patients. The care the trauma patient received while under Amy’s watch was a streamlined process.”

Capozzoli developed a yearly Perioperative Trauma Obstacle Course for perioperative nurses to improve skills, discuss best practice and demonstrate tasks that are critical during a Level 1 trauma. The nomination stated that “Amy puts her heart and soul in this…. She is a visionary in her quest to produce new and interesting topics, speakers, and skill stations.

“As we prepare for the transition of Trauma care to PPMC, I believe Amy has the knowledge, skills and attitude to assist in preparing others to care for the trauma patient in the Perioperative setting…. She is an asset to the Trauma Center at Penn.”

Tricia Abel-BakerAccording to her nomination letter, Tricia Abel-Baker of Emergency Medicine cares for “multiple injured patients in the trauma bay. She is able to prioritize the patients and their injuries, and develop, with the team, a plan of care based on patient need.”

In addition to her clinical care, she is currently working with Pastoral Care and PennSTAR on a pamphlet to help increase the flow of information from the medical staff to the family. The pamphlet will include pertinent phone numbers that enable family to directly reach a person rather than an automated answering machine, “providing a sense of comfort and security during this stressful time.”

The nomination noted that Abel-Baker “supports a culture of teaching and learning, developing a class for less experienced nurses to the trauma assignment on care of the injured patient…. She wants nurses to learn not only tasks but understand the whys, so that they can give the best care possible to our patients.... Her dedication and compassion for our patients during very stressful and uncertain times is evident in everything she does.”

Excellence in Trauma Nursing WinnersThis year, two nurses were selected to receive HUP’s Excellence in Trauma Nursing Award.

` Tricia Abel-Baker (r) with Lynne Johnson, who nominated her for the award.

` Amy Hand-Capozzoli with Jack Huff (l.), nurse manager of Perioperative Services Blue Zone, and John J. Gallagher, Trauma Program manager.

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HUPdateEDITORIAL STAFF Sally Sapega Editor and Photographer

Julia Fiorello Designer

ADMINISTRATION Susan E. Phillips Senior Vice President, Public Affairs

CONTACT HUPDATE AT: 3535 Market Street, Mezzanine Philadelphia, PA 19104

phone: 215.662.4488 fax: 215.349.8312 email: sally.sapega@uphs.upenn.edu

HUPdate is published biweekly for HUP employees. Access HUPdate online at http://news.pennmedicine.org/inside/hupdate.

OncoLink will be broadcasting live from Living Beyond Breast Cancer’s October community meeting. Those who cannot attend in person will be able to listen to the presentation and view the slides from this page. You will need to dial in to a conference call line to hear the speaker. That number will be posted at http://www.oncolink.org/blogs/index.php/2013/08/breast-cancer-survivorship-a-roadmap/ the day of the presentation. There is no video of the presentation.

During this free community meeting, speakers Christina Bach, MBE, MSW, and Carolyn Vachani, RN, MSN, AOCN, will:

Provide information, tips and resources on transitioning from treatment to survivorship and on making the most of life after a diagnosis of breast cancer.

Explain how to manage long-term side effects, navigate practical matters and control difficult emotions.

Provide insights into advocating for your health care by using tools like a survivorship care plan and by communicating your health history to new providers.

Thursday, October 106:30 pmBreast Cancer Survivorship: A Roadmap

DATE: TIME:TOPIC:

ONCOLINK’S NEXT BROWN BAG CHAT:

EMPLOYEE FLU CAMPAIGN STARTS NEXT MONTHOver the past four years, 99 percent of HUP and UPHS employees have been vaccinated for seasonal influenza. Getting the flu vaccine reduces the risk of illness for our staff and helps keep our patients, colleagues, and families safe and healthy. UPHS has been recognized by the State of Pennsylvania for this key patient safety initiative.

The 2013 Penn Medicine Employee Flu Campaign is an opportunity to continue our achievements. It will begin at HUP in late September as usual with the distribution of vaccine to high-risk clinical units and practices. The Occupational Medicine Flu Vaccine Clinics will follow, at a wide variety of HUP/CPUP/CORP locations, beginning in early October. The times and locations of the Flu Vaccine Clinics will be posted on the Intranet (http://uphsxnet.uphs.upenn.edu/occupationalmedicine).

Seasonal influenza vaccine is provided free of charge to all Penn Medicine staff, clinical faculty and contractors. Annual vaccination is needed for maximum protection. In 2013, influenza vaccines will protect against three or four of the virus strains most likely to be circulating this year. (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2013-2014.htm#expected) For the first time, egg-free vaccines have been manufactured and FDA-approved; we hope to have these available to egg-allergic employees by mid-October.

To ensure minimal waiting times and rapid documentation, bar-coded vaccine consent forms will be available to employees and faculty directly. Details on how to access your bar-coded form will be posted on the Intranet under ‘What’s Hot.’ (Click on the 2013-2014 Flu Campaign button.)

New this year, employees who submit their completed flu bar-coded consent form by November 1 will be entered into a raffle and eligible to win prizes, including a Kindle Reader, iPod Shuffle, and a gift basket with Penn memorabilia!

The UPHS Influenza Vaccine Policy is unchanged from last year. Contact your HR generalist for any questions about the policy.

HONORING THE WISHES OF SERIOUSLY ILL PATIENTSPOLST (Pennsylvania Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) is a medical order that gives seriously ill patients more control over their end-of-life care. Developed by the state’s Department of Health, it specifies the types of treatment that a patient wishes to receive towards the end of life.

POLST is effective and implemented when signed by the attending physician or auxiliary health-care worker and remains in effect until the death of the patient or the order is revoked. When a patient presents for treatment with this document, follow the HUP/CPUP Policy #1-12-71 Out of Hospital Do Not Resuscitate orders and POLST. You can access the POLST form at www.aging.pitt.edu/professionals/resources-polst/POLST-form.pdf.

You can learn more about POLST online by viewing a 13-minute video at http://vems1/GeneralPlayer.aspx. For questions, contact Regulatory Affairs at 662-2621.

POLST is different from:

• An ‘out-of-hospital DNR patient’ (for whom an attending physician has issued an out-of-hospital DNR order).

• Advanced directives.

• Living wills.

UPHS Pipeline ProgramSees Great Results